Omloop Het (Volk) Nieuwsblad - Feb 26th 2011

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I might go into hibernation for 6 days, I'm getting the withdrawal sypmtoms of being bored ****less with the current warm up races in the Middle East and Spain.

Roll on Saturday.

We're almost there

Once it starts, it's going fast..
Omloop + Kuurne
then Paris Nice
then Tirreno
then MSR
then GW and E3
then RVV
then Scheldeprijs
then Roubaix
also in between Pais Vasco
then AGR
then WP
then LBL
then Romandie
then Giro

then the most exciting part of the season ends and we get the bore the france etc

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I might go into hibernation for 6 days, I'm getting the withdrawal sypmtoms of being bored ****less with the current warm up races in the Middle East and Spain.

Roll on Saturday.

The first race in Spain all season was today. It was a prologue.

Either you have a very low boredom threshold or you have made the error of considering Algarve part of Spain.

 

[sublimit]

The first race in Spain all season was today. It was a prologue.

Either you have a very low boredom threshold or you have made the error of considering Algarve part of Spain.

Probably both.
Algarve is clearly Portugal though, The Iberian peninsular.

I think.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Mallorca is Spain too... so isn't that the 1st race in Spain?
I know it's on an island, but it's still part of Spain

 

[Roland Rat]

Hmm. Devolder, Gilbert, Boonen, Voeckler or Boom...

To be different, Voeckler.

 

[Izzy eviel]

According to my weather sources (weather.com) It looks like it's gonna be 12c, a bit windy and light rain. Still plenty of time to change...

 

[blaxland]

Thanks for the awesome profile Timmy.....All the usual suspects Boonen,Devolder,EBH..but someone different Greg Van Avermaet might just podium?Let the CLASSICS begin......

 

[barn yard]

nobody is talking about hoste... might be a good thing

 

[Ferminal]

We're almost there

Once it starts, it's going fast..
Omloop + Kuurne
then Paris Nice
then Tirreno
then MSR
then GW and E3
then RVV
then Scheldeprijs
then Roubaix
also in between Pais Vasco
then AGR
then WP
then LBL
then Romandie
then Giro

then the most exciting part of the season ends and we get the bore the france etc

Finally.

Classics every weekend, and PN, TA, Catalunya and Pais Vasco during the week!

 

[Race Radio]

Finally.

Classics every weekend, and PN, TA, Catalunya and Pais Vasco during the week!

Thank you to Al Gore for inventing the internet so we can watch it all

 

[boomcie]

Why isn't Haussler starting? He's not injured again, is he?

No, he is not injured. If my information is correct, he preferred doing some high altitude training instead.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Formally known as Omloop Het Volk

Saturday February 26, 2011.

Recent Winners;
Nick Nuyens (2005)
Philippe Gilbert (2006)
Filippo Pozzato (2007)
Philippe Gilbert (2008)
Thor Hushovd (2009)
Juan Antonio Flecha (2010)
Sorry couldn't wait anymore
Season really begins next saturday. Discuss.

Recent Placings:
-Flecha..........1st 2010, 2nd 2007, 3rd 2009
-Gilbert...........1st 2006, 1st 2008
-Hushovd........1st 2009, 3rd 2008
-Nuyens..........1st 2005, 2nd 2008
-Boonen..........2nd 2005, 3rd 2007
-Pozatto..........1st 2007
-Haussler........2nd 2010
-Farrar............3rd 2010
-Ista.................2nd 2009
-Van Bon.........3rd 2006

 

[craig1985]

I'm going to want Gilbert win. BTW, I downloaded the race last year from cyclingtorrents, with the coverage from Sporza, and TBH it doesn't make much difference, you know that it's Boonen, Flecha, etc.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I likw to think boom will be up there, he has form anyway.

 

[Moncoutie]

Offredo FTW! Coz hes in my CQ team!

 

[The Hitch]

But seriously, what are aqua e sapone doing there?

 

[L'arriviste]

But seriously, what are aqua e sapone doing there?

They were there last year. When the race reached the Molenberg and the key splinter selection was made, they ended up looking really shaky in a couple of small groups at the back of the race.

Then there was hell to pay on the Molenberg when a traffic jam caught most of them sandwiched between the line of team cars and a wall of thorny bushes.

It was worth the team's presence just to see their pain faces.

 

[red_flanders]

I'm pretty excited that racing is starting again. Love live Het Volk!

 

[theyoungest]

I'm pretty excited that racing is starting again. Love live Het Volk!

Yeah, long live the people!

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I'm going to want Gilbert win. BTW, I downloaded the race last year from cyclingtorrents, with the coverage from Sporza, and TBH it doesn't make much difference, you know that it's Boonen, Flecha, etc.

for this race I think Gilbert or Flecha > Boonen, as Tommeke the last few years seems to be using this more as build up to the bigger classics. Maybe he had health or other issues, but he finished out of the top 50 in this race last year. If he does well this year that's a sign he's on track for the rest of the Spring. If he doesn't show well in Het then it's more of a guess where he's at... he might want to use that.

don't know if any of these guys are in the start list, but what about:
-Boasson Hagen?: he had pretty good Oman outing
-Pozzato?

 

[Ferminal]

Is it something Boonen would want to win (having never done so previously)?

I'm tipping Van Avermaet!

 

[Christian]

To be different, Voeckler.

He surely is kicking **** right now. Too bad there is no Saxo and no Nuyens

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

for this race I think Gilbert or Flecha > Boonen, as Tommeke the last few years seems to be using this more as build up to the bigger classics. Maybe he had health or other issues, but he finished out of the top 50 in this race last year. If he does well this year that's a sign he's on track for the rest of the Spring. If he doesn't show well in Het then it's more of a guess where he's at... he might want to use that.

don't know if any of these guys are in the start list, but what about:
-Boasson Hagen?: he had pretty good Oman outing
-Pozzato?

I expect Boom as well. Shown good early season form and 200km races like this are well within his reach, certainly when riders like Boonen tend to peak later ofcourse

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Looking at the form of riders in Qatar and Oman, as well as other races around the world, I'd say Van Avermaet, Flecha, EBH and Lars Boom would be favourites. Boonen might also go well if he's planning a major attempt at MSR.

I'll go for an EBH win.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Is it something Boonen would want to win (having never done so previously)?

I'm tipping Van Avermaet!

I don't think so, even tho he took second and third places around 2005-2007.

All right, I'll have to keep watch for Van Avermaet... and BOOM